Feelin' NAKID
The Kicker recently heard that some former WAKA players/customers have "broken free" from their WAKA division and started something called the New Adult Kickballers in DC (NAKID) league. The new league plays on Sundays.
The NAKID registration fee, as advertised on the league's site, is lower than what WAKA has historically charged. The NAKID fee is advertised as $42 if you register by 2/14. (I am also told that the fee is only $10 for captains.) WAKA typically charges around $60.
For more information, you can go to www.playnakid.com and read all about the new league.
The NAKID registration fee, as advertised on the league's site, is lower than what WAKA has historically charged. The NAKID fee is advertised as $42 if you register by 2/14. (I am also told that the fee is only $10 for captains.) WAKA typically charges around $60.
The new league also allows "flexibility with the roster and forfeiting rules." Why? To avoid problems when people sign up, pay their money, but are never seen and just take up space on a filled roster.
For more information, you can go to www.playnakid.com and read all about the new league.
posted by The Kicker at 11:58 AM
10 Comments:
Not only is NAKID cheaper, but more of the money actually goes back to the teams (instead of going towards WAKA's million/yr profits); so there'll be cooler and cheaper parties. NAKID also has some kickass bar specials... $2 Miller Lite drafts, $8 pitchers, so bring on the flipcup!
Also, we like to have fun and meet people not show we are the kickball masters of the universe. I like it because I actually SEE the people that are involved and they actually HELP us fill teams, find players, and enjoy kickball. It really has been a lot of fun. Plus, there are events EVERY WEEK!
Where can we go wrong with cheaper registration fees and cheaper beer? Plus we do more as a group than WAKA groups off season, like hockey games, parties, birthday bar crawls...you name it.
There is no "supposedly", we are cheaper - period. Just $42 by Feb 14 and still cheaper after that. Come on out and join us for fun, no more dealing with WAKA reps who don't care and getting only 20 percent of your fees back to the division. Let's just have fun.
There is a great group of people that form a core of the new league, and it is due to their efforts that everything has been possible. The fact that they care and work so hard to make it a success for everyone makes the NAKID league superior to WAKA where laugues, teams, and players are just numbers and revenue streams. These people make it work and in the past have made our former WAKA league awesome. So it is not about the organization, but about the people and in this case will make you happy you joined up.
Playing NAKID rocks. The only downside is that, because of all the NAKID social events, my non-NAKID social life has gone to hell. Curse you, Joe!
I like to see new leagues and lower prices. But 10 players on the field, and 30 on the roster??? Right there that's 25% less avg. playing time per game than WAKA. And now the WAKA season includes 11+ games with their minimum 2 regional games for all teams. I didn't do the math, but I think the WAKA cost per game is actually lower than NAKID or DCKickball.
I think the effort to make it a 100% volunteer effort is valiant. WAKA used to do that, too. But like WAKA -- and just like DCKickball this year -- I predict NAKID will be changing their model in the near future to allow it to actually grow without certain people giving up their day jobs.
If that's the case Jamie, I will give a small reluctant golf clap to WAKA. I've said all along that if WAKA wants to protect its business, it should improve its product and set itself apart through service, not by legal slight of hand. And improving the product does not necessarily mean a quantitative approach. Putting exactly 16 chips in the chocolate chip cookie does not mean it is a better cookie. Using good chocolate means it is a better cookie.
Different players are going to want different experiences. 11 games (more than a three month commitment if you figure in holidays and other interruptions) might be too many for some players. For some people socializing might be more important than time on the field. Others might want a more serious league. Cost-per-game might not be as important to some people as cost-per-party. It's all a matter of what you want. Customers should and DO have a choice. (Welcome to the Free Market!)
Until a kickball organization can please everyone, it has absolutely no basis for trying to prevent customers from seeking alternatives that address their desires. The WAKA model isn't for everyone. The NAKID model isn't for everyone. The DCKickball model isn't for everyone. But thank goodness there are choices. I hope that all choices will remain viable well into the future. And I hope that all these kickball organizations will seek player input, not simply guess at what players want and then cram it down their throats.
I was just responding to King and others who claim NAKID is "cheaper - period". Not really that simple or true.
I'm all for competition between businesses.
Jamie , you are of course not paying attention to the things that are hidden costs in other leagues - like parties and events. NAKID says that all of the parties will have no additional cost to players and the other events (I believe there are 10 or so) will have no cost either to players. My experience thus far has been the beer is cheaper, every team gets its own ball to have for the season, and it's a lot more social.
As the Kicker said, WAKA can do whatever they want, some people want something else. WAKA just doesn't seem to like people having choices. No one has a problem with WAKA making money or NAKID or whomever - but when your product ceases to be good, you lose money.
PS The NAKID people would have played with WAKA, but WAKA kicked us out.
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